Brief History

Historical Boston, then only the land of a peninsula, was a faction of the land mass it is today after massive land-fill projects of the mid- to late-19th century (the rubble from the Great Boston Fire of 1872 help fill in the waterfront) and the annexing of six towns from two counties (as listed above). Boston was first settled by passengers of the Winthrop Fleet of 1630 who first lodged in Charlestown. These first settlers were Puritans, the religious group wanting to change the Church of England from working inside the church. Called the "City on the Hill" by Gov. John Winthrop, the "hub" as we now call it became the center of trade, education, government, wealth, and power. It was the capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, then the Royal colony of Massachusetts, and finally the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Shortly after its settlement, Boston had become a major settlement. It was the largest town in British North America for the first hundred years. Because of that, the town and later city became a draw for immigrants from around the world. Though the first two hundred years saw mostly English arrivals, Scots, Irish, and French were found here, too. It was after 1820 that immigrants from other European countries started arriving in large numbers. The gate was opened by the Irish fleeing the potato famine in 1847. The next wave included more Irish (their dominance starting in the early 20th century is a testament to their number), but also Germans, Italians, and Syrians. The end of the century saw French Canadians, Russian and Polish Jews, and Swedes arriving. The 21st century brought African Americans from the South, Southeast Asian immigrants (especially Chinese and Vietnamese), Muslims, and Puerto Ricans. Many other ethnicities can be found in pockets all over Boston, and walking in downtown one will likely here many languages being spoken.

Historical Data

The basic data is from the "Historical Data" publication series[1] with additions from various sources.

Town Histories

City and town of Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Also shows annexed towns of Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Roxbury, and West Roxbury.

Boston - General

List of Persons, Copartnerships, and Corporations who were taxed on ten thousand dollars and upwards, in the city of Boston in the year (1847-18??).Digital version at Internet Archive (1861) and Hathi Trust (1847-1854 issues).WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Other Merchants and Sea Captains of Old Boston: Being More Information About the Merchants and Sea Captains of Old Boston Who Played Such an Important Part in Building up the Commerce of New England Together with Some Quaint and Curious Stories of the Sea (Boston, 1919), 70 pp.Digital version at Internet Archive and Google Books.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Some Merchants and Sea Captains of Old Boston: Being a Collection of Sketches of Notable Men and Mercantile Houses Prominent During the Early Half of the Nineteenth Century in the Commerce and Shipping of Boston (Boston, 1918), vii, 53 pp.Digital version at Internet Archive and Google Books.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Peter R. Knights, The Plain People of Boston, 1830-1860: A Study in City Growth (New York, 1971), xx, 204 pp.This was the first in a planned series of three books [it ended up being two books], and thus was a prologue that is more statistical in nature.WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL book 974.461 H2k.

Peter R. Knights, Yankee Destines, The Lives of Ordinary Nineteenth-Century Bostonians (Chapel Hill, N.C., 1991), xxv, 281 pp.The final book that sampled Boston families from four censuses and the research to discover everything about their lives.WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL book 974.461 H2kp.

The Clubs of Boston containing a complete List of Members and Addresses of all Boston Clubs of Social and Business Prominence (Boston, 1891), 442 pp. with map.Digital version at Internet Archive (1888 ed.).WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Guidebooks

Bowen's Picture of Boston, or the Citizen's and Stranger's Guide to the Metropolis of Massachusetts, and its Environs. To which is prefixed the Annals of Boston (Boston, 2nd ed., 1833), 316 pp. with map.Digital version at Internet Archive and Ancestry ($) (1838 ed.).WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Isaac M. Fein, Boston - Where it all Began, An Historical Perspective of the Boston Jewish Community (Boston, 1976), iii, 83 pp.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Allan Forbes and Paul F. Cadman, Boston and Some Noted Emigres: A Collections of Facts and Incidents with Appropriate Illustrations Relating to Some Well-Known Citizens of France who Found Homes in Boston and New England (Boston, 1938), 98 pp.Digital version at Hathi Trust for searching only.WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL book 974.461 H2f.

James Oliver Horton and Lois E. Horton, Black Bostonians, Family Life and Community Struggle in the Antebellum North (New York, 1979), xv, 175 pp.This study of the Black community focuses on those before the Civil War who were never part of the slave history of the south.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Boston's Growth. A Bird's Eye View of Boston's Increase in Territory and Population From It's Beginning to the Present (Boston, 1910), 45 pp.Digital version at Internet Archive and Hathi Trust.Not on WorldCat; Not at FHL.

Boston - One Hundred Years a City. A Collection of Views Made from Rare Prints and Old Photographs Showing the Changes Which Have Occurred in Boston During One Hundred Years of its Existence as a City, 1822-1922 (Boston, 1922), xii, 49 pp.Digital version at Internet Archive.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Thomas Pemberton, "A Topographical and Historical Description of Boston, 1794" in the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, for the year 1794, 3: 241-[304].Digital version at Google Books.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Charles Shaw, A Topographical and Historical Description of Boston, from the first settlement of the town to the present period : with some account of its environs (Boston, 1817), 311 pp.Digital version at Ancestry ($).WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Vital Records

To understand the issues with the vital records for Boston, we need to understand its history. Massachusetts Bay enacted laws early on for the recording of vital events. The town of Boston dutifully recorded these events. From a study by Lemuel Shattuck using the baptismal records, he determined that the practice of civil recording of births saw a slow and steady decline since 1725 when the reported rate of was 3.3% (religious baptisms were near 5%) and down to 2.0% by 1845 (i.e. less than half of what should be expected). Turning to marriages, Shattuck found that the rate of marriages was relatively unchanged all the way up to 1845. He observed two gaps that should be noted. From 1663 to 1689, not one marriage was recorded in the civil records, and from 1751 to 1761 only a few marriages were found. Deaths were well recorded in the early years, but like the marriages, none appear from 1663 to 1689. A separate volume was used after this period and seem to be representative until 1719. But, from 1719 to 1810, few deaths were recorded. In 1810, recording was done by the Superintendent of Burials so then appear complete from then forward. Shattuck found that from 1704 to 1774, sextons made weekly returns to the newspapers for the number who died each week. In this period as the town grew, the annual average death toll rose from 334 to 521, so many thousands of deaths were not recorded. These gaps and issues should be kept in mind when using Boston vital records. [See Lemuel Shattuck, Report to the Committee of the City Council Appointed to Obtain the Census of Boston for the Year 1845 (Boston, 1846), 126-133, Ap. 71-73.]

The town's vital records are available in many locations:

Online records

There are two collections of original records online. Further details can be found below under Original records below.

Note: The "Register of Births, British Consulate at Boston, United States" on FHL film 1494362 are births, 1871-1902, in Mass. (mostly Boston); births, 1903-1932, mostly in Mass.; and deaths, 1902-1929, most all at sea.

City Directories and Almanacs

Boston city directories are one of the most complete record of the city's adult male population, business women, and later the widows of the men previously listed. Boston was the third place to start publishing directories (after New York and Philadelphia) in 1789. They were published annually (for the most part) after 1825. The directory evolved from a simple entry (ex. Herring Ebenezer, mason and sexton, Lynde-street) to one of name, occupation and location, residence (boarding or house), and would list you if you worked in the city but lived elsewhere (then it would name the town of residence). Added features were usually a map (often not digitized and missing), lists of a few trades (such as lawyer, physician, etc.), a few civic items (fire companies, justices, etc.), and business advertisements. More categories appeared over time. By the later 1800s, when someone was being dropped because they died, their death date would be given, or moved, their new town of residence was given. By 1930, there was a very helpful reverse directory added (arranged by street). This resource ceased publication in 1981. The years published are:

The Boston Almanac started publication in 1836 as a simple almanac of climate, astrological, farm, and other tables along with a calendar. Soon, city and state officials were added along with history sections for the previous year and listings of all the streets, wharves, ward boundaries, public buildings, stage coach tables, societies and institutions, newspapers, and other handy information. The contents can change annually. The title changed over time:

Maps, Wards, and City Streets

Maps

This is a list of map resource sites of particular interest to genealogists, and is not an effort to trace the vast cartographic history of Boston in full. There will be many maps of Boston in every major library including the Family History Library. Consult the catalog for the particular holdings of a library. The earliest map specifically of Boston is by Capt. John Bonner in 1722. There are many versions available on the internet, one is at Boston Public Library. Since Boston covers a majority of Suffolk County, look for Suffolk County Atlases.

Reference Books

"List of Maps of Boston, Published Between 1614 and 1822" printed as Appendix J of the Thirty-fifth Annual Report of the City Engineer Boston for the year 1901 (Boston, 1902), pp. 129-161.Digital version at Internet Archive and Google Books.WorldCat (Other Libraries) [rep.]; Not at FHL.

List of maps of Boston published subsequent to 1600, copies of which are to be found in the possession of the city of Boston or other collectors of the same ... February 1, 1904 (Boston, 1904), 95 pp.Digital version at Internet Archive and Google Books.This is another reprint of the 1902 list with supplementary list.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Alex Krieger and David Cobb, Mapping Boston (Cambridge, Mass., 1999), xiv, 278 pp.A series of historical and current maps with essays by Anne Mackin discussing the important events and landmarks of the day.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Maps Online

Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, Boston Public Library.This is the largest single collection of Boston maps with a listing of 584.

Boston Redevelopment Authority, The Boston Atlas.This can be a complicated site for the first time user. Click on one of the three viewer choices and wait for the new window to open and fill in with a map. Any of the three will allow a search of a specific address. Here, we are concerned about the historical overlays only. The user can select (or unselect) any overlay desired. For the Flash viewer, unselect all except the historic map (choice of 1775, 1814, 1826, or 1881). The two Java viewers are similar. Unselect all items in the menu except the last. Click on the named box and an extensive menu with sub-menus will appear. The largest collection of historical maps is under "Future Boston Map Collection". Play around until you find what you need.

When Boston incorporated as a city in 1822. Wards were drawn and redefined in 1822, 1838, 1850, 1865, 1875, 1895, 1914, and 1924. The 1875 was set aside by the court and never officially used. These ward boundaries were defined in A Catalogue of the City Councils of Boston, 1822-1890, Roxbury, 1846-1867, Charlestown, 1847-1873 and of the selectmen of Boston, 1634-1822, also of various other town and municipal officers (Boston, 1891), xxxix, 270 pp. (Boston, 2nd ed., 1909), 402 pp., at pages 7 through 40 [see WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL; online at Internet Archive, Google Books, and Hathi Trust (1909 ed.); and in the Municipal Register for 1912, 1924, and 1927 [WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL; online links for all years, see the Boston Public Library].

It is important to understand these changes ward boundaries as they are referenced in city directories, census, tax records, and other documents. Voter lists and governmental representation was established by wards. The following is a description and associated map to help learn where these boundaries were. Note that the descriptions are the official boundary and the maps sometimes vary from the descriptions (Note: boundaries and colored areas may differ).

1735

Starting at the Charlestown Ferry and going up Prince Street (including both sides) to Gee's Corner, left on Salem Street, right on Charter Street, left on Henchman's Lane across Lyn Street to the harbor.

Ward No. 2

Union Wharf area

Starting at the harbor (at the end of No. 1 above) up Henchman's Lane, right diagonally across Charter Street [description called this Elder Barker's Corner], along Salem Street [as far as the Rev. Dr. Cutler's], left on Love Street, left on North Street, right on Foster's Lane, across Ship Street to the harbor and to which is added Rumney Marsh [now Chelsea].

Ward No. 3

Fleet Street area

Starting at the harbor (at the end of No. 2 above) up Foster's Lane, left on North Street, right on Love Lane, left on Salem Street [to Peirce's Corner though called Gee's Corner for No. 1], left on Prince Street through Bell Alley, right at Clark's Square [Mr. Mountfort's Corner and so the Dolphin Tavern] to Fish Street, and at that point, out to the harbor.

Ward No. 4

Center of North End

[Since the description does not match the map, we give the map description first] Starting at Fish Street up Clark's Square, left on Bell Alley through Prince Street, left on Back Street (both sides) to the Mill Creek Bridge, sharp left out Middle Street, right on Wood Lane to Fish Street and the beginning. [From the northeast corner of Prince Street, running down the south side as far as Boucher's Corner, and then on both sides of the way to the Mill Bridge, and from thence on the west side of Middle Street to Prince Street, taking in the Square from Cox's Corner, down the north side of Wood Lane, through Bell Alley, to Capt. Wadsworth's.]

Ward No. 5

Christopher Columbus Park north

Starting at Wood Lane, left on Middle Street across the Mill Bridge, left on Union Street to the town dock and out to the harbor, including all of Ann Street and Fish Street to Wood Lane and to include the Red Lion Wharf on Fish Street at the corner of Clark's Square.

Ward No. 6

Lower Hanover Street toward City Hall

Starting at the Mill Pond and up the Mill Creek to the Mill Bridge, right on Hanover Street, left on Union Street, right on Wing's Lane [to Bradford's Corner], left on Hanover Street to the "Orange Tree", right on Sudbury Street, left on Hawkins Street [description called it Kneeland's Lane] to the corner of it, then right out the Mill Pond to include Jackson's Still House.

Ward No. 7

Beacon Hill and its back

Starting just west of the Jackson's Still House (above) on the Mill Pond and back to the same corner on Hawkins Street, and down it, right on Sudbury Street, right on Southack's Court to its end, then drawn a line southwest over the hill [Beacon Hill] to a point where Southack Street and Beacon Street meet -- all land west of this line including Barton's Point.

Ward No. 8

Faneuil Hall to Long Wharf

Starting at the town dock near the intersection of Union and Ann Streets, up Wing's Lane, left on Hanover Street, left on Queen Street around the corner through King Street and out Long Wharf.

Ward No. 9

Old South Meeting House north

[From the description not found on the map] Starting at Mr. Bowdoin's Corner on Tremont Street taking in the western side of Beacon Street, down to the bottom of the Common, down School Street, right on Marlborough Street, left on Milk Street, left on Horn Street [Taunan Lane on map], right on Water Street to Oliver's Dock, left on Mackerel Lane, left on King Street through Queen Street to the beginning.

Ward No. 10

Franklin Street area

Starting at Mr. Secretary Willard's [on Common Street?], down Rawson's Lane, crossing over Penniman's Corner [i.e. right on Marlborough Street], left on Summer Street, left on Cow Lane, over the Hill [i.e. Fort Hill, so right on Gibbs's Lane, left on Battery March] to Halloway's Shipyard, [assumed up Water Street, left on Taunan Lane, and right] to Milk Street, across South Meeting House Square [i.e. right on Marlborough Street], left on School Street to the beginning [the corner of Tremont and Common Streets].

Ward No. 11

South of Summer Street

Starting at the Rawson's Lane and going down Common Street, left on West Street, diagonally across Newbury Street and down Pond Street, left on Blind Street onto Summer Street to Barton's Rope Walk [not on map], along the harbor [not stated so] to Mr. Hubbard's [wharf], up the hill [i.e. Gibbs's Lane], left on Cow Lane, up Summer Street, right on Marlborough Street, left on Rawson's Lane to the beginning.

Ward No. 12

West Street south

Starting at the School House on the Common, down West Street, diagonally across Newbury Street and down Pond Street, left on Blind Lane onto Summer Street to Bull's Wharf -- all land south of this line.

1805

Starting at the Charles River Bridge onto Prince Street, left on North Street to the Winnisimit Ferry.

Ward No. 2

Christopher Columbus Park and north

Starting at the Winnisimit Ferry up North Street through Middle Street, left on Proctor's Lane to the Town Slip.

Ward No. 3

Central North End

Starting at the Charles River Bridge onto Prince Street, right on Middle Street, left on Proctor's Lane to the Town Slip (as the northern border) and Mill Creek and causeway (as the southern border) -- all land in between.

Ward No. 4

Quincy Market area

Starting at the Mill Creek and onto Hanover Street, left on Court Street passed Pemberton Hill and around through State Street and out Long Wharf.

Ward No. 5

North Station area

Starting at the Mill Creek and onto Hanover Street, right to Southack's Court, right on Bulfinch Street to Bowdoin Square, left up Cambridge Street, right on Lynde Street and Leverett Street, right on the causeway to the extension of Mill Creek.

Ward No. 6

Mass. General Hospital area

Starting from the causeway down Leverett Street through Lynde Street and through Hancock Street, right on Myrtle Street, right on South Russell Street, left on May Street to the water.

Ward No. 7

State House and the flat of Beacon Hill

Starting at the Charles River and up May Street, right on South Russell, left on Myrtle Street, left on Hancock Street, right on Cambridge Street through Bowdoin Square, right on Bulfinch Street, left on Southack's Court, right on Tremont Street, right on Park Street, left on Beacon Street to the Charles River.

Ward No. 8

School Street to Post Office Square area

Starting at the Long Wharf and up State Street through Court Street, left on Tremont Street, left on Bromfield Lane, right on Marlborough Street, left on Milk Street to the harbor.

Ward No. 9

Rowe's Wharf area

Starting at the harbor and up Milk Street, left on Federal Street, right on High Street, left on Summer Street to the harbor.

Ward No. 10

Downtown Crossing area

Starting at Common Street down Bromfield Lane, left on Marlborough Street, right on Milk Street, right on Federal Street, right on High Street, diagonally across and up Pond Street through West Street, right on Common Street to the beginning.

Ward No. 11

Leather District - Chinatown to the Common

Starting at the harbor and up Summer Street, veer left onto Pond Street through West Street, left on Common Street onto Pleasant Street [??], left on Elliot Street, left on Orange Street, right on Beach Street and across Front Street to the harbor.

Ward No. 12

South of the Common along Washington Street and South Boston

Starting at the Charles River Basin across Elliot Street, left on Orange Street, right on Beach Street and across Front Street to the harbor -- all land south of this line and South Boston included.

1822

Boston Wards in 1822Plan of Boston (1826) with ward boundaries - colored section were proposed new wards for 1832Note: 35 churches in the city

Ward

Modern Description

Boundary

Ward No. 1

Copp's Hill area

From Winnesimett Ferry (at the northeast point), then westerly along North and Middle to Prince Street, northerly side of Prince to Thacher Street to easterly side of Medford Street to the river. [Note: Four churches]

Ward No. 2

Lewis's Wharf area

From Winnesimett Ferry (at the north point), then southwesterly along North and Middle on the easterly side to Cross Street, then along the north side of Cross Street to the harbor. [Note: Three churches]

Ward No. 3

North Station / Mill Pond area

From Medford Street at the river along the southerly side of Medford, Thacher, and Prince Streets, then the western side of Middle to Cross Street; From the town dock through Market Square to Union Street on the northeasterly side to Hanover Street, along the west side of Hanover to Friend Street, then northeasterly side of Friend to the river. [Note: Two churches]

Ward No. 4

Strip from Charles River Dam to Long Wharf plus the islands

From the river on the southwesterly side of Friend to Hanover Streets, east on Hanover Street on the southerly side to through Market Square and to the Town Dock, and out to the end of Long Wharf; including all the islands (670 inhabitants); at the head of Long Wharf west on the northerly side of State Street, through Court Street, Bowdoin Square, and Cambridge Street, north of Staniford Street on the easterly side through Leverett Place along Prospect Street to where it meets Causeway Street on the river. [Note: Three churches]

Ward No. 5

West End / Mass. Gen. Hospital

Starting at the last point in Ward 4 tracing back to Cambridge Street, then west on the northerly side of Cambridge to the West Boston Bridge [now Longfellow Bridge]. [Note: Two churches, the hospital, and the city court house with two gaols]

Ward No. 6

West side of Beacon Hill

Starting at the West Boston Bridge (above) at the river along the south side of Cambridge Street, along the westerly side of South Russell Street to Myrtle east on the southerly side of Myrtle Street to Belknap Street, along Belknap south on the westerly side to Beacon Street, west on Beacon along the northerly side to Charles Street (at the meeting of the Charles River and the Receiving Basin that was divided by the mill dam at the Boston / Roxbury line. [Note: One church]

Ward No. 7

State House / King's Chapel area

Starting on Beacon Street at the Common, north on Belknap Street on the easterly side to Myrtle Street, the west to South Russell Street, then north along that to Cambridge Street, east on Cambridge along the southerly side along Court Street to Cornhill, then west on Cornhill along the northerly side through Marlborough and Newbury Streets to West Street, northwest on West to the Common, follow the Common to the beginning along Common, Park, and Beacon Streets back to Belknap. [Note: Seven churches]

Ward No. 8

Downtown Crossing area

Starting at the corner of Court Street and Cornhill (above), southwest as above to Bedford Street, southeast on Bedford to the harbor; then from Russian Wharf onto Atkinson Street north to Milk Street, then east to Adams Street, north on Adams through Kilby to State Street, then west on State to Cornhill. [Note: Seven churches]

Ward No. 9

Financial District / Fort Hill - Washington Place

Starting at the northerly end of India Street on the harbor west along State Street, then south on Kilby Street through Adams Street to Milk Street, then west on Milk to Atkinson Street, then south on Atkinson to the harbor. [Note: Two churches]

Ward No. 10

North side of Chinatown

Starting on the south side of Bull's Wharf on the harbor out westward along Bedford and West Streets to the Common, south and west along the Common on Common Street to Boylston Street, east along Boylston through Essex Street to Rainsford Lane, south on the lane to the harbor. [Note: Two churches]

Ward No. 11

South side of Chinatown / Tufts Medical Center

Starting at Ward 10 on west side of Rainsford Lane on the harbor north to Essex Street, then west on Essex through Boylston Street, then north along Charles Street to the Mill Dam [actually, to the Roxbury line in the Receiving Basin], along the Charles to Pleasant Street a short distance then east along Elliot Street to Warren Street, then south on Warren to Orange Street, diagonally across to continue on Pine Street to the harbor. [Note: Two churches]

Ward No. 12

Boston Neck along present Washington Street and South Boston

Starting at Ward 11's southern border of Pleasant to Elliot to Warren and the Pine Streets as the northern border of Ward 12, all land south of this along the Boston Neck and also South Boston. [Note: Full ward not shown on map and no churches visible]

1838

Starting at the Winnisimet (now Chelsea) Ferry along Hanover Street, right on Richmond Street through Cooper Street, across Charlestown Street and right along Beverly Street to the river.

Ward No. 2

Lewis's Wharf area

Starting at the Ferry (above) along Hanover Street, left at Union Street [different on map] to Dock Square, then left on North Market Street to the City Wharf.

Ward No. 3

North Station / Mill Pond area

Starting at the river [at Trull's Wharf] along Beverly Street, across Charlestown Street left along Cooper Street through Richmond Street to Hanover Street, right along Hanover Street, left onto Union Street, right onto Elm Street [different on map] to Hanover Street, diagonally across along Portland Street, left on Sudbury Street, right onto Hawkins Street, left on Chardon Street to Bowdoin Square, right on Green Street [different on map], right at Lyman Place, right on Prospect Street [not named on map] to the intersection with Causeway Street through to Lowell Street to the river.

Ward No. 4

Strip from Beacon Hill (behind State House) to Long Wharf plus East Boston and the islands

Starting at the end of City Wharf going along North Market Street, through Dock Square, along Elm Street to Hanover Street, diagonally across that street to the right up Portland Street, left on Sudbury Street, right on Hawkins Street, left on Chardon Street to Bowdoin Square, right on Green Street [different on map], left on Staniford Street, right on Cambridge Street, left on Belknap Street [now Joy Street], left on Mt. Vernon Street, [missing - right on Temple Street], left on Beacon Street, left on Tremont Street, right on Court Street through State Street out Long Wharf, then including all of East Boston and all the islands in the harbor.

Ward No. 5

West End / Mass. Gen. Hospital

Starting at the Cambridge Bridge on the river (now Longfellow Bridge) along Cambridge Street, left on Staniford Street across Green Street through Lyman Place, right onto Prospect Street [not named on map], across Causeway Street, and along Lowell Street to the river.

Ward No. 6

West side of Beacon Hill

Starting at the Cambridge Bridge on the river (now Longfellow Bridge) along Cambridge Street, right on Belknap Street [now Joy Street], right on Beacon Street to the receiving basin.

Ward No. 7

State House / Downtown Crossing / King's Chapel area

Starting at the corner of Belknap Street [now Joy Street] and Beacon Street on the Common, up Belknap Street, right on Mt. Vernon Street, [missing - right on Temple Street], left on Beacon Street, left on Tremont Street, right on Court Street through State Street, right on Congress Street, right on Milk Street, left on Federal Street, right on Franklin Street, left on Hawley Street, left on Summer Street, across Chauncey Place and Bedford Place [not labeled on map] through Rowe Street, right on Essex Street, across Washington Street along Boylston Street, right on Tremont Street, left on Park Street, left on Beacon Street to the first point.

Ward No. 8

Financial District / Fort Hill - Washington Place

On the harbor at Long Wharf out along State Street, left on Congress Street, right on Milk Street, left on Federal Street, left on Berry Street, right on Atkinson Street to the harbor west of the Russia Wharf.

Ward No. 9

Chinatown North area

Starting at and including Hobb's Wharf [Lloyd's Wharf on map], up Beach Street, right on Washington Street, right on Essex Street, left on Rowe through Bedford and Chauncey Place [neither named on map], left on Summer Street, right on Hawley Street, right on Franklin Street, right on Federal Street, left on Berry Street, right on Atkinson Street to the harbor west on the Russia Wharf.

Ward No. 10

South Station - Chinatown area

Starting at Hobb's Wharf above [Lloyd's Wharf on map], up Beach Street, right on Washington Street, left on Boylston Street along the Common, left on Pleasant Street and left again on Eliot Street [slightly different on map], right onto Carver Street, left on Pleasant Street, right onto Washington Street, left on Indiana Street [Distilhouse on map], right across the railroad tracks on Harrison Avenue [Front Street on map], and left on the new road to the Cove [Orange Street on the map] to the south side of Guild and Cowdin's Wharf.

Ward No. 11

The Neck - Central South End area

Starting at the corner of Boylston and Pleasant streets, down Pleasant Street and left again on Eliot Street [slightly different on map], right onto Carver Street, left on Pleasant Street, right onto Washington Street, left on Indiana Street [Distilhouse on map], right across the railroad tracks on Harrison Avenue [Front Street on map], and left on the new road to the Cove [Orange Street on the map] to the south side of Guild and Cowdin's Wharf. The ward being all land south and west of this line to the Roxbury town border.

Starting at the end and including all of the Eastern Packet Pier on the harbor and running across and up Richmond Street, right on Salem Street, left on Cooper Street, crossing Charlestown Street diagonally right onto Beverly Street out to the river along and including Trull's Wharf. [Note: Eleven churches]

Ward No. 2

East Boston and the harbor islands

Including all that part of the city called East Boston and all the islands in the harbor. [Note: Five churches]

Ward No. 3

North Station area

Starting between the Fitchburg Railroad depot and Trull's Wharf on the river and out along Beverly Street across Charlestown Street and left onto Cooper Street, right on Salem Street, left on Richmond Street, right on Hanover Street, right on Court Street through Bowdoin Square and onto Green Street, right on Leverett Street, verse right onto Causeway Street, and left on Lowell Street in a line passed the Boston & Lowell Railroad depot to the river. [Note: Six churches]

Ward No. 4

Government Center to Long Wharf

Starting at the harbor next to, but not including, the Eastern Packet Pier and up Richmond Street, left on Hanover Street, right on Court Street through Bowdoin Square and onto Green Street, left on Staniford Street, diagonally across Cambridge Street onto Temple Street through Mount Vernon Street through Park Street, right on Tremont Street, left on Winter Street, left on Washington Street, right on Milk Street across India Street, and out and including Central Wharf. [Note: Thirteen churches and the largest part of the business district]

Ward No. 5

West End / Mass. Gen. Hospital

Starting at the Cambridge Bridge and out along Cambridge Street, left on Staniford Street, left on Green Street, right on Leverett Street, and left on Lowell Street to the Boston & Lowell Railroad bridge. [Note: Three churches, Mass. Gen. Hospital, and the new county jail]

Ward No. 6

West side of Beacon Hill including State House

Starting at the Cambridge Bridge and out along Cambridge Street, right on Temple Street through Mount Vernon Street, right on Beacon Street and onto Western Avenue to the river. [Note: Five churches, reservoir, State House, and the Eye and Ear Infirmary]

Ward No. 7

Financial District to Rowe's Wharf including Fort Hill

Starting where the Central Wharf meets India Street and up Milk Street, left on Washington Street, right on Winter Street, left on Tremont Street, left on West Street through Bedford Street, right on Kingston Street, left on Essex Street, left on South Street, right on Summer Street and straight out to the harbor between Summer Street Wharf (not included) and Bull Wharf (included). [Note: Eleven churches]

Ward No. 8

South Station west to the Common

Starting at a point between Bull and Summer Street wharfs on the harbor and up Summer Street, left on South Street, right on Essex Street, right on Kingston Street, left on Bedford Street though West Street to the Common, turn left on Tremont Street, left on Elliot Street through Kneeland Street crossing Sea Street to a point between Howe's and Emery's wharfs. [Note: Four churches]

Ward No. 9

Bay Village north to the Common - Public Garden

Starting at the boundary between Roxbury and Boston on Western Avenue at the northwest corner of the planned public garden on Western Avenue through Beacon Street, right on Park Street, right on Tremont Street, left on Warren Street, right on Washington Street, right on West Castle Street and crossing Tremont Street to the Worcester Railroad bridge, then up the receiving basin to the beginning. [Note: Four churches]

Ward No. 10

Tufts Medical Center area south to the Traveler's / Herald building

Starting at a point on the harbor between and including Emery's Wharf and not including Howe's Wharf across Sea Street and up Kneeland Street continuing on Elliot Street, left on Tremont Street, left on Warren Street, right on Washington Street, left on Dover Street [now East Berkeley Street] to the South Boston Bridge. [Note: Six churches]

Ward No. 11

The Neck - Central South End area

Starting at the boundary between Roxbury and Boston at the Worcester Railroad bridge out across Tremont Street and down West Castle Street, right on Washington Street, and left on Dover Street [now East Berkeley Street] to the South Boston Bridge -- south and west of this line to the Roxbury border down the Neck is included in this ward. [Note: Five churches]

Ward No. 12

South Boston

All that part of the city called South Boston on the Dorchester Neck including the South Boston and Free bridges. [Note: Ten churches]

1865

Boston Wards in 1865Plan of Boston (1867)Note: 114 churches in the city in 1867Note: 127 churches in the city in 1869 (with addition of Roxbury)

Ward

Modern Description

Boundary

Ward No. 1

East Boston and the harbor islands

All that part of the city called East Boston and all the islands in the harbor. [Note: Twelve churches]

Ward No. 2

The North End

Starting at but not including Warren Bridge at the river along Lovejoy's Wharf, right on Causeway Street, left on Haverhill Street across Haymarket Square through Blackstone Street, left on Clinton Street to the harbor. [Note: Thirteen churches]

Ward No. 3

North Station - Mass. Gen. Hospital area

Start at the Cambridge [West Boston on map] Bridge at the river and out along Cambridge Street, left on Staniford Street, left on Green Street, right on Leverett, veer right on Causeway Street to a point just passed the Fitchburg Depot and before Lovejoy's Wharf, then left to the river to the right of and including Warren Bridge. [Note: Seven churches, four railroad depots, Mass. General Hospital, a medical collage, and the county jail]

Ward No. 4

Government Center to Long Wharf

Starting at the harbor and up along Clinton Street, right on Blackstone Street across Haymarket Square through Haverhill Street, left on Causeway Street, onto Leverett Street, left on Green Street, right on Staniford Street across Cambridge Street to Temple Street, left on Mount Vernon Street, right on Park Street, right on Tremont Street, left on Winter Street, left on Washington Street, right on Milk Street across India Street to the south side and including Central Wharf. [Note: Seventeen churches, city hall, county courthouse, and many businesses]

Ward No. 5

Financial District to Rowe's Wharf including Fort Hill

Starting at the ending point above but excluding Central Wharf across India Street and up Milk Street, left on Washington, right on Winter Street to the Common, left on Tremont Street, left at the Masonic Temple onto Boylston Street, right on Washington Street, left on Beach Street, right on Federal Street, and left on Mount Washington Avenue to Fort Point Channel. [Note: Twelve church, two theaters, and three railroad depots]

Ward No. 6

West side of Beacon Hill including State House, Common and Public Garden

Start at the Cambridge [West Boston on map] Bridge at the river and out along Cambridge Street, right on Temple Street, left on Mount Vernon Street, right on Park Street, right on Tremont and right on Boylston Street to follow along the southerly border of the Common and Public Garden, right on Arlington Street, and left out the newly planned Commonwealth Avenue to the border with the city of Roxbury and following that until to meets the river. [Note: Seven churches, the State House, reservoir, the Common, and Public Garden]

Ward No. 7

Fort Point Channel area

Starting at Mount Washington Avenue on Fort Point Channel up to and turning right onto Federal Street, left on Beach Street, left on Albany Street, right on Curve Street, left on Harrison Avenue, left on Dover [now East Berkeley] Street across the Dover Street Bridge to the waterline of South Boston, following the shoreline to the point where Dorchester Avenue [Federal Street on map] and the Old Colony & Newport Railroad tracks cross, continuing out the tracks and turn left on E Street out to and across First Street to the harbor. [Note: Five churches, numerous railroad buildings, and the foundry area]

Ward No. 8

Tufts Medical Center and Chinatown

Starting on the south side of the Common on Boylston Street at the junction of Carver Street and down Boylston Street, right on Washington Street, left on Beach Street, right on Albany Street, right on Curve Street, diagonally across Harrison Avenue and up Indiana Street, right on Washington Street, left on Pleasant Street, right onto Carver Street to the beginning. [Note: Eight churches, theater, and public library]

Ward No. 9

Bay Village west including southern Back Bay and northern South End

Starting on Harrison Avenue at Florence Street and up Florence Street, diagonally across Washington Street and up Champman Street, left on Tremont Street, right on Berkeley Street, left on Warren Avenue, across Columbus Avenue up Newton Street [not named on map], left on the Boston & Providence Railroad tracks to the city of Roxbury border, right up the border to the newly planned Commonwealth Avenue, right on that avenue, right on Arlington Street, left Boylston Street, right on Carver Street onto Pleasant Street, right on Washington Street, left Indiana Street, right on Harrison Avenue to the beginning. [Note: Ten churches and two railroad depots]

Ward No. 10

Eastern South End

At the start of Ward No. 9 above then up Florence Street, diagonally across Washington Street and up Champman Street, left on Tremont Street, right on Berkeley Street, left on Warren Avenue, left on Brookline Street to South Bay. [Note: Eight churches and piano factory]

Ward No. 11

West South End

Starting at the border between the cities of Boston and Roxbury at the point where the Boston & Providence Railroad crosses and continue on the tracks east, right on Newton Street [not named on map], crossing Columbus Avenue at a diagonal onto Warren Avenue, right on Brookline Street to the South Bay and the city of Roxbury border, then west along this border through the Roxbury Canal and beyond, right traveling up the border, then right again to meet at the beginning. [Note: Seven churches, piano factory, city hospital complex, and city water and sewer plants]

Ward No. 12

South Boston

All that section of the city now known as South Boston lying south of E Street and south and west of the track of the Old Colony & Newport Railroad. [Note: Eight churches, idiotic school, insane hospital, and house of correction]

1868

Starting at and including the Roxbury Canal and following a line between Fellows Street and Harrison Avenue west along the old border between the cities of Boston and Roxbury, right up the same border just east of Hunneman Street, left on Washington Street, left at Dudley Square down Dudley Street to the border with the town of Dorchester, then left following Line Brook that is the border to the South Bay. [Note: No churches, loom, cotton, and watch factories, and the lead and gas works]

Ward No. 14

Southeast of Dudley Square to Washington Park

Starting at the point where Dudley Street is crossed by the Line Brook and continuing west along that brook until reaching and continuing on Vale Street until it intersects with Lawrence Avenue, then west on the city of Boston and town of Dorchester line to a corner just southwest of Grove Hall, right to Brush Hill Turnpike [now Blue Hill Avenue] and up Seaver Street though Egleston Square [the border with West Roxbury], right on Shawmut Avenue [now Washington Street], left on Bartlett Street to Eliot Square, sharp right on Dudley Street, left on Putnam Street through Shailers Avenue through unnamed street [Cabot Street?], left on Culvert Street, right on Tremont Street, right on Hammond Street and continuing along the old border between the cities of Boston and Roxbury, right on Washington Street through Dudley Square, left on Dudley Street to the beginning. [Note: Eleven churches]

Starting on Shawmut Avenue [now Washington Street] at the town of West Roxbury border, north along this border to the Muddy River, northeast along this river (being the border with the town of Brookline) almost to the river, right along the old border between the cities of Boston and Roxbury, right along the same border, right again and coming down to Tremont Street, right on that street , left on Culvert Street, right on an unnamed street [Cabot Street?] through Shailers Avenue and Putnam Street, right on Dudley Street, sharp left at Eliot Square and down Bartlett Street, right on Shawmut Avenue to the beginning. [Note: Two churches]

This was to be the former town of Brookline, but Brookline declined to be annexed so this ward never existed.

Ward No. 19

Brighton

Being all the part of the town of Brighton before annexation.

Ward No. 20

Charlestown Square

Starting at the Charles River and going up Chapman Street, diagonally right onto Austin Street, left on Main Street, right up Green Street, right on High Street, right on Winthrop Street, left along the north side of Winthrop Square [i.e. Adams Street], right on Chestnut Street, right on Chelsea Street, sharp diagonal left on Wapping Street to the Charles River.

Ward No. 21

Bunker Hill and Navy Yard

From the river follow the previous border up Wapping, Chelsea, and Chestnut streets to Winthrop Square, along the north side of the square, up High Street, and right on Pearl Street in a line down to the Mystic River.

Ward No. 22

West Charlestown

Starting at the Charles River and going up Chapman Street, diagonally right onto Austin Street, left on Main Street, right up Green Street, left on High Street, and right on Pearl Street in a line down to the Mystic River - all the land northwest of this line.

1875

Boston Wards in 1875Map of Boston (1876)[includes the amended border change in 1876 and shows the old borders with Roxbury and Dorchester]

Ward

Modern Description

Boundary

Ward No. 1

Northeast East Boston

Beginning at Front Street on the harbor and up Porter Street through Central Square to Border Street, and left out between Week's Wharf and Jackson's Shipyard (that is included) on the Mystic River -- all land northeast of this line and including Breed's Island.

Ward No. 2

East Boston and the harbor islands

Using the line above -- all land southwest of this line and including all of the harbor islands.

Ward No. 3

Northeast Charlestown and Navy Yard

Starting on the Mystic River at the extension of Pearl Street, up Pearl Street, left on High Street, left on the east side of Monument Square, right on Chestnut Street, left on Mount Vernon Avenue, right on Mount Vernon Street, left on Adams Street, right on the southwestern border of the Navy Yard to the Charles River.

Ward No. 4

West Charlestown

As described, being all the land in that part called Charlestown that was not included in Wards 3 and 5.

Ward No. 5

Charlestown City Square

Beginning at the Charles River at Caswell's Wharf and up the southwestern border of the Navy Yard, left on Adams Street, right up Mount Vernon Street, left on Mount Vernon Avenue onto Chestnut Street, left down the east side of Monument Square, right on High Street, left on Walker Street, diagonally across Main Street onto Lincoln Street through its extension to the border with the city of Somerville.

Ward No. 6

North End

Beginning at and including the Charles River Bridge down Prince Street, right on Salem Street, diagonally across Hanover Street and left on Blackstone Street, right on North Street across Dock Square, left on Devonshire Street, left on Milk Street, left on India Street [different than map] and out and excluding India Wharf.

Ward No. 7

West End

Beginning at and including the Charles River Bridge down Prince Street, right on Salem Street, diagonally across Hanover Street and left on Blackstone Street, right on North Street across Dock Square, left on Devonshire Street, right on State Street through Court Street, left on Howard Street, right on Bulfinch Street though Bowdoin Square, left onto Cambridge Street, right on Lynde Street through Leverett Street, veer right onto Causeway Street, and left on Beverly Street out to the Charles River.

Ward No. 8

Spaulding Rehab. Hospital - Suffolk County Jail

Beginning at the Warren Bridge and out Beverly Street, right on Causeway Street, left on Leveret Street and through Lynde Street, right on Cambridge Street, left on Blossom Street, left on Allen Street to the Charles River.

Ward No. 9

Mass. General Hospital

Starting at the Charles River and up Allen Street, right on Blossom Street, left on Cambridge Street, right on Joy Street, right on Beacon Street, right on Otter Street to the Charles River.

Ward No. 10

Public Garden / Common - State House - Downtown Crossing

Starting at the northwest corner of the Public Garden east on Beacon Street, left on Joy Street, right on Cambridge Street through Bowdoin Square, right on Bulfinch Street, left on Howard Street, right on Court Street through State Street, right on Devonshire Street through Lincoln Street, right on Beach Street, left on Hudson Street, right on Kneeland Street through Eliot Street, right on Tremont Street, left on Boylston Street, and right on Arlington Street to the beginning.

Ward No. 11

Back Bay - Bay Village

Beginning on the Charles River and out Otter Street, left on Beacon Street, right on Arlington Street, left on Boylston Street, right on Carver Street, left on Eliot Street, right on Warrenton Street, right on Tremont Street, veer right onto Chandler Street, lef on Berkeley Street, right on Lawrence Street, left on Dartmouth Street, right on Warren Avenue, left on West Newton Street, left on the Boston & Providence Railroad tracks, and right on West Chester Park to the Charles River.

Ward No. 12

South Station

Starting at and including India Wharf, across and out India Street, left on Milk Street, right on Devonshire Street through Lincoln Street, right on Beach Street, left on Hudson Street, right on Kneeland Street through Eliot Street, right on Tremont Street, left on Boylston Street, left on Carver Street, left on Eliot Street, right on Warrenton Street, right on Tremont Street, left on Pleasant Street, right on Washington Street, left on Pine Street through Way Street, and veer right onto Broadway to the bridge at Fort Point Channel.

Ward No. 13

Northwestern side of South Boston

Starting on Fort Point Channel at the Dover Street Bridge down into South Bay to the junction of the with the New York & New England Railroad and the Old Colony Railroad tracks, continuing right out the Old Colony tracks, left on D Street, right on West Sixth Street, and left on E Street out the Boston Harbor.

Ward No. 14

East end of South Boston

Starting on the Boston Harbor and down E Street, left on West Broadway, right on Dorchester Street, and left on Old Harbor Street to Dorchester Bay -- all lands east of this line.

Ward No. 15

Andrew Square

Starting on Dorchester Bay and up Old Harbor Street, right on Dorchester Street, left on West Broadway, left on E Street, right on West Sixth Street, left on D Street, right on the Old Colony Railroad tracts, left on the New York and New England Railroad tracks, left on the extension and then onto Willow Court, left on Dorchester Street, right on Mount Vernon Street to Dorchester Avenue, and then a straight line to Dorchester Bay.

Ward No. 16

Castle Square

Starting at Fort Point Channel and up Broadway, left on Way Street through Pine Street, right on Washington Street, left on Pleasant Street, left on Tremont Street, veer right onto Chandler Street, left on Berkeley Street, right on Tremont Street, left on Milford Street through Bradford Street and through Medford Street, left on Washington Street, right on Ashland Place onto Bristol Street, left on Albany Street, and right on the Dover Street Bridge on Fort Point Channel.

Ward No. 17

East side of the South End

Beginning at Fort Point Channel and South Bay at the Dover Street Bridge, left on Albany Street, right on Bristol Street through Ashland Place, left on Washington Street, right on Medford Street through Bradford Street and Milford Street, right on Tremont, left on Berkeley Street, left on Lawrence Street, left on Dartmouth Street, right on Warren Avenue, left on West Brookline Street through East Brookline Street to the South Bay.

Ward No. 18

West side of the South End

Starting on the South Bay and up East Brookline Street through West Brookline Street, left on Warren Avenue, right on West Newton Street, left on the Boston & Providence Railroad tracks, left on Camden Street, right on Washington Street, left on Lenox Street, left on Fellow Street, sharp right on Northampton Street, and sharp left onto Albany Street to the Roxbury Canal and out to the South Bay.

Ward No. 19

Madison Square

At Camden Street on the Boston & Providence Railroad tracks out, left on Tremont Street, right on Pynchon Street, left on Roxbury Street, left on Washington Street, and left on Camden Street to the beginning.

Ward No. 20

Dudley Square - Cottage Avenue

Starting at the South Bay and up the Roxbury Canal, left on Albany Street, sharp right onto Northampton Street, sharp left on Fellow Street, right on Lenox Street, left on Washington Street, veer left on Warren Street, left on Dudley Street, right on Greenville Street, right on Blue Hill Avenue, left on Quincy Street, left on Columbia Street through Boston Street and Dorchester Street, and left on Willow Court out to South Bay.

Ward No. 21

Fort Hill - Washington Park - Grove Hall

Starting at where Tremont Street crosses the Boston & Providence Railroad tracks, right on Pynchon Street, left on Roxbury Street, left on Washington Street, right on Warren Street, left on Dudley Street, right on Greenville Street, right on Blue Hill Avenue, left on Seaver Street through Egleston Square, right on Washington Street, left on Codman Avenue, sharp right on Amory Street until it meets Centre Street and the Boston & Providence Railroad tracks, and right along the tracks to the beginning.

Ward No. 22

Mission Hill to the planned Fenway and all of Brighton[This is the 1876 amended version that added Ward 25 (Brighton) to this ward]

Starting at the Charles River and down West Chester Park, right on the Boston & Providence Railroad tracks, right on Centre Street through Perkins Street, right on Pond Avenue to the Muddy River and border for the town of Brookline, right along this border with Brookline, left on Brighton Avenue along the northern town border and then including everything west of this point being the former town of Brighton.

Ward No. 23

West Roxbury - Roslindale - Jamaica Plain

Starting at the border with the town of Brookline and down Pond Avenue, right on Perkins Street through Centre Street, right on Amory Street, left on Codman Avenue, right on Washington Street, left through Egeleston Square and Searver Street, right on Blue Hill Avenue, veer right on Back Street to the border with the town of Hyde Park -- all land west of this line.

Ward No. 24

Dorchester - Mattapan

Starting at Dorchester Bay and a straight line to Dorchester Avenue, across and up Mount Vernon Street, left on Dorchester Street through Boston Street and Columbia Street, right on Quincy Street, left on Blue Hill Avenue, veer right on Back Street to the border with the town of Hyde Park, left along the town line to the Neponset River, and down the river to Dorchester Bay.

Starting at the harbor going up Front Street [not shown on map] and up Marion Street, left on Bennington Street through Central Square, right onto Border Street past first main pier and left out to the Mystic River -- all land northeast of this line plus Breed's Island.

Ward No. 2

East Boston and the harbor islands

Using the line from above -- all land southwest of this line plus all the harbor islands.

Ward No. 3

Northeast Charlestown and Navy Yard

Starting at and including Brook's Wharf on the Mystic River, across Medford Street and up Pearl Street, left on High Street along the south side of Monument Square, left up the east side of the square, right on Chestnut Street, verge left onto Mount Vernon Avenue, right on Mount Vernon Street, across Adam and Chelsea streets along the Navy Yard's southwest border to the Charles River -- all land northeast of this line.

Ward No. 4

West Charlestown

Beginning at the Mystic River at the border between the city of Boston and Somerville and along this border to a point on the Boston and Maine Railroad tracks where the extension of Lincoln Street would be, left up that extension along Lincoln Street, right on Main Street, left up Walker Street. right on High Street, left on Pearl Street in a straight line to the west of Brook's Wharf on the Mystic River -- all land west of this line plus the island on the north side of the Mystic River where the Malden Bridge lands.

Ward No. 5

Charlestown City Square

Starting at Miller's River up the city of Boston and Somerville line, right on the extension of Lincoln Street (above mentioned) through Lincoln Street, right on Main Street, left on Walker Street, right on High Street along the south side of Monument Square, left up the east side of the square, right on Chestnut Street, verge left onto Mount Vernon Avenue, right on Mount Vernon Street, across Adam and Chelsea streets along the Navy Yard's southwest border to the Charles River -- all the land south of this line to the Miller's and Charles rivers.

Ward No. 6

North End

Starting at the south side of Long Wharf across Atlantic Avenue, up Central Street, right on India Street, left on Milk Street, right on Washington Street, left on School Street across and up Beacon Street, right on Bowdoin Street, right on Cambridge Street, left on Chardon Street, left on Portland Street, right on Travers Street, left on Charlestown Street, right on Causeway Street, left on Prince Street to the Charles River.

Ward No. 7

Boston Common - Chinatown - South Station - Financial District

Starting at Fort Point Channel up Broadway, left on Way Street, left on Harrison Avenue, right on Motte Street through Castle Street, right on Tremont Street, left on Pleasant Street, right on Columbus Avenue through Park Square, left on Charles Street, right on Beacon Street across through School Street, right on Washington Street, left on Milk Street, left on India Street, right on Central Street to the south side on Long Wharf on the harbor.

Ward No. 8

Mass. General Hospital - North Station

Starting at the West Boston Bridge [now Longfellow Bridge] down Cambridge Street, right on Joy Street, left on Beacon Street, left on Bowdoin Street, right on Cambridge Street through Bowdoin Square, left on Chardon Street, sharp left on Portland Street, right on Travers Street, diagonal left on Charlestown Street, right on Causeway Street, and left on Prince Street to the river.

Ward No. 9

Southeastern South End

Starting at Fort Point Channel up Broadway, left on Way Street, left on Harrison Avenue, right on Motte Street through Castle Street, left on Tremont Street, left on West Dedham Street, right on Shawmut Avenue, left on East Canton Street through to its extension to South Bay.

Ward No. 10

East Fenway through northern South End

Starting at the Back Bay Fens at Boylston Street on the east, in on Boylston Street, right on Exeter Street, left on Blagden Street through Copley Square onto St. James Street, left on Berkeley Street, right on Providence Street to Park Square, right down Pleasant Street, right on Tremont Street, right on Dartmouth Street, left on Warren Avenue, diagonally across Columbus Avenue onto West Newton Street, left along the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad tracks, sharp right on Rogers Avenue, left on Huntington Avenue, right on the entrance to the Back Bay Fens, and along the Muddy River to the beginning.

Ward No. 11

Boston University - West Fenway - Back Bay - Flat of the Hill

Starting on the Charles River at the West Boston Bridge [now Longfellow Bridge] out Cambridge Street, tight on Joy Street, right on Beacon Street, left on Charles Street through Park Square, right on Providence Street, left on Berkeley Street, right on St. James Avenue through Copley Square onto Blagden Street, right on Exeter Street, left on Boylston Street across the Muddy River and continue on Boylston Street, along the Muddy River to the extension of St. Mary's Street, down St. Mary's Street to the Charles River.

Ward No. 12

Western side of the South End

Starting at the South Bay up East Canton Street, right on Shawmut Avenue, left on West Dedham Street across Tremont Street and up Dartmouth Street, left on Warren Avenue, diagonally across Columbus Square up West Newton Street, left on the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad tracks, left on Camden Street, right on Washington Street, left on East Lenox Street, right on Fellows Street, right on Northampton Street, left on Albany Street, right on Massachusetts Avenue, left along the Roxbury Canal out to South Bay.

Ward No. 13

Northwestern side of South Boston

Starting at a point on South Bay where the Dorchester Avenue and the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad and go along Dorchester Avenue, left on D Street, right onto the tracks, left on E Street, right on West Broadway, left on F Street to the harbor -- all lands northwest of this line.

Ward No. 14

East end of South Boston

Starting at the Old Harbor up K Street, left on East 6th Street, right on H Street, left on East Broadway and turn onto West Broadway, right on F Street to the harbor -- all land east of this line.

Ward No. 15

North Andrew Square to Telegraph Hill

Starting at a point on South Bay where the Dorchester Avenue and the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad and go along Dorchester Avenue, left on D Street, right onto the tracks, left on E Street, right on West Broadway, turn onto East Broadway, right on H Street, left on East 6th Street, right on K Street to the old harbor, right along the water, right up Old Harbor Street, left on Burnham Street, left on Mercer Street, right on Newman Street, left on Dorchester Street through Andrew Square and out Swett Street to South Bay.

Ward No. 16

South Andrew Square - Everett Square - Western Upham's Corner

Starting on the Old Harbor up Old Harbor Street, left on Burnham Street, left on Mercer Street, right on Newman Street, left on Dorchester Street through Andrew Square and out Swett Street out the bridge, left on New York and New England Railroad tracks crossing Massachusetts Avenue, right on East Cottage through West Cottage Street, left on Blue Hill Avenue, left on Quincy Street, left on Columbia Street through Upham's Corner onto Boston Street to Everett Square, left on East Cottage across Town Meeting Square onto Crescent Avenue, left on the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad, right on the Carson Street extension to the Old Harbor.

Ward No. 17

Dudley Square of Roxbury

Starting at South Bay and up the Roxbury Canal, right on Massachusetts Avenue, left on Albany Street, right on Northampton Street, left on Fellows Street, right on East Lenox Street, left on Washington Street, left on Warren Street, left on Moreland Street, right on Blue Hill Avenue, left on West Cottage onto East Cottage, left on New York and New England Railroad to South Bay.

Ward No. 18

Madison Square area of Roxbury

Starting on the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad tracks at Camden Street, out on the tracks, left on Linden Park Street, right on Gay Street, right on Roxbury Street to Eliot Square, very sharp left Bartlett Street onto Dudley Street, left on Warren Street onto Washington Street, and left on East Camden Street back to the beginning.

Ward No. 19

Mission Hill area of Roxbury

Starting at the Back Bay Fens on the Muddy River (and the border with the town of Brookline), out the entrance, left on Huntington Avenue, right on Rogers Avenue, right on the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad, left on Linden Park Street, right on Gay Street, right on Roxbury Street across Eliot Square, left on Highland Street, right on Marcella Street, left on Centre Street, right on Heath Street [different than on map] to New Heath Street, left on Bickford Street, right on Minden Street, left on Day Street, right on Grotto Glen and extension across the Jamaicaway to the Muddy River, right along the river and border with the town of Brookline back to the beginning.

Ward No. 20

Mount Bowdoin northeast to Savin Hill in Dorchester

Starting on Dorchester Bay up Greenwich Street, left on Dorchester Avenue, right Centre Avenue to what now is Codman Square, right on Talbot Avenue, right on Blue Hill Avenue, right on Quincy Street, left on Columbia Street through Upham's Corner onto Boston Street to Everett Square, left on East Cottage across Town Meeting Square onto Crescent Avenue, left on the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad, right on the Carson Street extension to the Old Harbor.

Ward No. 21

Washington Park to Grove Hall of Roxbury

Starting at Eliot Square out on Bartlett Street onto Dudley Street, right on Warren Street, left on Moreland Street through Emmanuel Street, right on Blue Hill Avenue through Grove Hall, right on Seaver Street, right on Walnut Avenue, left on Westminster Avenue, right on Washington Street, left on Valentine Street, right on Thornton Street, left on Ella Street, left on Hawthorn Street, right on Highland Street to Eliot Square.

Ward No. 22

Jamaica Plain - Egleston Square

Starting at Jamaica Pond out on Pond Street on the border with the town of Brookline, right on Myrtle Street, right on Centre Street, veer left onto South Street at the Soldier's Monument, left on Carolina Avenue, left on the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad tracks, right on Green Street across Washington Street onto Glen Road across Forest Hills Street onto Sigourney Street onto Walnut Street, left on Westminster Avenue, right on Washington Street, left on Valentine Street, right on Thornton Street, left on Ella Street, left on Hawthorn Street, left on Highland Street onto Marcella Street, merge onto Centre Street, left on Centre Street, right on Heath Street [different than on map] to New Heath Street, left on Bickford Street, right on Minden Street, left on Day Street, right on Grotto Glen and extension across the Jamaicaway to the Muddy River, left along the Muddy River and the border with the town of Brookline to the beginning.

Ward No. 23

West Roxbury - Roslindale - Forest Hills

Starting at Jamaica Pond out on Pond Street on the border with the town of Brookline, right on Myrtle Street, right on Centre Street, veer left onto South Street at the Soldier's Monument, left on Carolina Avenue, left on the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad tracks, right on Green Street across Washington Street onto Glen Road across Forest Hills Street onto Sigourney Street onto Walnut Street, right on Seaver Street, right on Blue Hills Avenue, right on Harvard Street to the border of the city of Boston and town of Hyde Park, left along the border with Hyde Park, right onto the border with the town of Dedham, right onto the border with the city of Newton, right onto the border with the town of Brookline back to the beginning.

Ward No. 24

Mattapan - Lower Mills - Ashmont - Neponset - Harrison Square

Starting on Dorchester Bay up Greenwich Street, left on Dorchester Avenue, right Centre Avenue to what now is Codman Square, right on Talbot Avenue, left on Blue Hill Avenue, diagonally across Blue Hill Avenue onto Harvard Street to the border of the city of Boston and town of Hyde Park, left along the border with Hyde Park to the Neponset River, left down the river along the border with the town of Milton and city of Quincy to Dorchester Bay.

Ward No. 25

Allston - Brighton

Starting at the Charles River at St. Mary's Street [Abbey Street on map] to Commonwealth Avenue -- all lands west of this line being the former town of Brighton.

City Streets

Introduction

With Boston's aggressive program of landfill and annexation of neighboring towns, the city landscape of streets was ever-changing. This is the researcher's guide to these streets, the additions, but also the deletions or moving of a name from one area to another.

The first listing of streets for the town of Boston was published as a broadside called The Names of the Streets, Lanes & Alleys within the Town of Boston, in New England (Boston, 1708). The Vade Mecum for America (Boston, 1732) was the first commercial guide designed for travellers. After the Revolution, some names of English or Royal bent were changed. The town ordered a new list made and it was recorded in the Town Records in 1788 that was recorded in book 8 starting on page 81. A second unofficial list was published called Names of the Streets, Lanes and Alleys in the Town of Boston in 1800. Street lists began to appear in the Boston City directories starting in 1803. The next official list came in 1834 when the 1708 and 1788 lists were reprinted and then updated with streets in the annexed South Boston, formerly Dorchester Neck. This was reprinted later the same year. An update to this report was published in 1842. As a byproduct of a project to index plans at the Suffolk Registry of Deeds in 1860, Francis Lincoln found it necessary to prepare a list of streets and their changes. This can be found there in manuscript form.

Because of the annexation of Roxbury, a list of changes in names for street in Boston proper and Roxbury was given in 1868 to eliminate the confusion caused by the duplication of names [see Municipal Records, Vol. 46, pp. 286-408, city Doc. No. 49, 1868]. The great study of street names and their history post-1708 was published in 1879 [see City Doc. No. 119 for 1879, Appendix J]. This included the work in 1860, but the problem was it only focused on Boston proper and many more towns had been annexed by that time. The Street Commissioners reported on 27 December 1880 to the city Council a Report of the Street Commissioners on the Nomenclature of the City's Streets [see City Doc. No. 141 for 1880] of suitable names the duplicate streets could be given. The rest of the publication history is presented in the lists to follow.

Official lists

The Names of the Streets, Lanes & Alleys within the Town of Boston, in New England (Boston, 1708), broadside, Note: This was reproduced in the front of the records of streets published in 1910 (below).No digital version found of original, but see the 1910 reprint.WorldCat (Other Libraries - one of many versions); Not at FHL.

The 1788 street name list published in the Documents of the City of Boston for the year 1903.Digital version at Google Books.Not on WorldCat; Not at FHL.

By a committee of the Board of Alderman, a third official list of streets was created in 1834 that utilized the first two lists and additions and deletions to 1834. This work included the streets from the recently annexed South Boston (in 1804). See city Records, Vol. 12, p. 179. This listed was formally submitted and adopted later in the year.

The Committee on Laying Out and Widening Streets submitted a list an update to the previous report in 1842. See Municipal Record, Vol. 20, p. 297.

Francis Lincoln who was preparing an index to plans at the Suffolk Registry of Deeds found it necessary to prepare a list of streets with their various names in 1860. This file was placed at the registry (so noted in 1910).

An order was present to the Board of Aldermen in 1868 providing fo changes in the names of a number of streets in Boston proper and Roxbury that was intended to eliminate the confusion caused by the duplication of names in the newly annexed Roxbury bearing the same names as streets in Boston proper. See Municipal Records, Vol. 46, pp. 286-408, city Doc. No. 49 for 1868.

The Joint Standing Committee on Ordinances in 1879 submitted a report consisting of a statement of the manner in which the streets of the city had been named and their names changed, together with the reasons of the committee for limiting their research into the history of the streets to the period subsequent to 1708, and explanation of the difficulty of the work and the process by which the committee had arrived at the result, being appendix J of their report. See City Doc. No. 119 for 1879. Note: This study was only for Boston proper and thus left the rest of the city unstudied.

Report of the Street Commissioners on the Nomenclature of the City's Streets which was a list of the public streets in different parts of the city with similar names and "the title which the Commissioners have suggested to themselves as suitable for such of those streets as in their opinion should be renamed and appended to them." See city Doc. No. 141 for 1880.

List of Streets, Avenues, Courts, Places, Etc. showing the number and divisions of those extending through more than one ward by the Board of Registrars of Voters.Digital versions at 1880 ed. and 1888 ed.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

James R. Carret agreed to prepare for the city a record of names of the streets in the city as found in its records, alphabetically arranged, showing the dates of laying out and the date of change in name of any streets which had taken place from 1871 to 1894. See city Doc. No. 35 for 1894.

The above work was continued by J. H. Jenkins, John W. Morrison, and Irwin C. Cromack and appeared as Appendix B in the report of the Street Laying-Out Department for 1894. See city Doc. No. 35 for 1895.

List of Streets, Avenues, Courts, Places, Etc. showing the number and divisions of those extending through more than one ward or precinct together with the location of hotels, apartment-houses, etc. by the Board of Election Commissioners (Boston, 1896), 128 pp.Digital version at Internet Archive.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

A Record of the Streets, Alleys, Places, Etc. in the City of Boston compiled under the Direction of the Street Commissioners and Printed by Order of the City Council with an Appendix containing a description of the Boundary, Wards and Aldermanic Districts of the City ... by the Street Laying-out Department (Boston, 1902), 466 pp.No digital version found.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Boston Streets also its Avenues, Courts, Places, Etc., showing the numbers and divisions of those extending through more than one ward or precinct, together with the location of hotels, apartment-houses, etc. by the Board of Election Commissioners (Boston, 1906), 156 pp.Digital version at Internet Archive.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

A Record of the Streets, Alleys, Places, Etc. in the City of Boston ... with an Appendix containing a description of the Boundary Line of the City and also a Description of the Changes which have been made in it by Annexations, etc., from the date of the Settlement of the Town to 1910 by the Street Laying-out Department (Boston, 1910), xvi, 543 pp.Digital versions at Internet Archive and Google Books.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Boston Streets also its Avenues, Courts, Places, Etc., showing the numbers and divisions of those extending through more than one ward or precinct, together with the location of hotels, apartment-houses, engine houses, school houses, institutions and hospitals by the Board of Street Commissioners (Boston, year varies).Digital versions by year: 1913; 1916; 1919; 1921; 1923; 1925; 1926; 1928; 1930; 1932; 1933; 1935.WorldCat (Other Libraries) - choose year; Not at FHL.

Boston Streets also its Avenues, Courts, Places, Etc., showing the numbers and divisions of those extending through more than one ward or precinct, together with the location of hotels, apartment-houses, engine houses, school houses, institutions, hospitals and Squares named in honor of World War veterans by the Board of Street Commissioners (Boston, year varies)Digital versions by year: 1936; 1939; 1941; 1944; 1948; 1951.WorldCat (Other Libraries) - choose year; Not at FHL.

Boston Streets also its Avenues, Courts, Places, Etc., showing the numbers and divisions of those extending through more than one ward or precinct, together with the location of Squares named in honor of World War veterans, hotels, fire stations, schools, institutions and hospitals, public libraries, parks and playgrounds by the Public Works Department (Boston, year varies).Digital versions by year: 1955; 1957 (supp. only); 1958; 1959 (supp. only); 1960 (supp. only); 1963.WorldCat (Other Libraries) - choose year; Not at FHL.

Boston Streets also its Avenues, Courts, Places, Etc., showing the numbers and divisions of those extending through more than one ward or precinct, together with the location of Squares named in honor of veterans, hotels, fire stations, police stations, schools, institutions and hospitals, public libraries, little city halls, parks, playgrounds, public buildings, historical sites, parking locations, and places of religious worship by the Public Works Department (Boston, year varies).Digital versions by year: 1971; 1976; 1982; 1989.WorldCat (Other Libraries) - choose year; Not at FHL.

Street Directory including location of all streets with numbers at which other streets intersect by the Boston Transportation Department (Boston, year varies).Digital versions by year: 1993; 1999.Not in WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Official database

Cemeteries

The following is a chronological list of cemeteries in present-day Boston proper, Boston Harbor, East Boston, and South Boston. For information on the areas annexed to Boston, see those separate town pages. For more details regarding these cemeteries, see the state guide under cemeteries for books on the subject.

The city's Parks and Recreation Department runs a public / private cooperative program called the Historic Burying Grounds Initiative. From their website, you can learn more about the eighteen historic burying grounds in their oversight, find maps of them, newsletters of the program, and a mid-1980s database of fourteen of the cemeteries (missing Evergreen, Fairview, Mount Hope, and South End) giving the name, death date, cemetery, and location for each entry.

Boston proper cemeteries

1. King's Chapel Burying Ground, Tremont St., 1630. (B, C)

Note: There are interior tombs in the chapel dating back to 1749.Wikipedia entry.

A Sketch of the Original and History of the Granary Burial Ground: With a list of the past and present owners of tombs (Boston, 1879), 21 pp.Digital version at Google Books.Not on WorldCat; Not at FHL.

William Henry Whitmore, The Graveyards of Boston: Second Volume, Granary and Boston Common Epitaphs (Albany, N.Y., 188-), 128 pp.No digital version available.Not on WorldCat; Not at FHL; NEHGS Library, Boston.

Note: The meeting house was burned in the Great Fire of 1760. Thwing [see History - Topographical above], 145, said the remains were re-interred in Lynn in 1827. Dunkle and Lainhart [see below as item B], 800, say William Mumford bought land on Brattle Square in 1694 for a Quaker meeting house and burying ground. The Society moved to Quaker Lane [now Congress Street] in 1708. This Society voted to discontinue in 1808. After eleven years of non-use, the remains of 111 people were exhumed and removed to Lynn. It was uncommon for Quakers to inscribe stones, so this lost cemetery was likely marked with fieldstones. The source for the later is not given.

5. Jewish Burial Ground, Chamber St., before 1734. (B)

Note: This burying ground was referenced in a deed of Isaac Solomon in 1735 as a "Burying Ground as it is now fenced in to the Jewish nation." Nothing more is known about this site. See Thwing [see History - Topographical above], 205-206.

William Henry Whitmore, The Graveyards of Boston: Second Volume, Granary and Boston Common Epitaphs (Albany, N.Y., 188-), 128 pp.No digital version available.Not on WorldCat; Not at FHL; NEHGS Library, Boston.

7. South Burying Ground or South End Cemetery, Washington St. between East Newton and East Concord Sts., South End, 1810-1866. (A, B)

From the city's Historic Burying Ground Initiative: When the South End Burying Ground was opened in 1810, it was located on the narrow strip of marshland, Roxbury Neck, which connected the peninsula of Boston to the mainland. The gallows stood at the east edge of the burying ground, near the tidewaters of South Boston Bay, leading to the persistent myth that primarily hanged pirates and other criminal were buried here. In fact, it is difficult to know exactly who is buried here. In the nineteenth century, people of modest means had recorded, but unmarked graves. They could not afford elaborate headstones or other types of monumentation. While there are only 20 grave markers, records indicate that over 11,000 are buried at this site. Successive filling of the marshy site permitted burials in several tiers. It has been reported that South End Burying Ground contains the graves of paupers from the Alms House and inmates from the House of Industry. Mostly, though, this site is known as a working man's burying ground, where families paid a small fee to the City for burials. Interments ceased in this graveyard in 1866.

Note: Others have taken the short list of inscriptions (noted above and given below) into a long lost cemetery on Boston Neck, but in fact there is only one cemetery in this part of the city.

Note: The tombs were used to the late 19th century and the burials removed in 1914 -- some to Mount Hope Cemetery.

9. Park Street Church Tombs, Park St., 1824-1861.

Note: Some burials were re-interred in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, in 1861.

10. Old Trinity Church Tombs [site], Summer St., burned in the Great Fire of 1872.

Boston Harbor Island cemeteries

What is known about the cemeteries on the island comes from Edward Rowe Snow, The Islands of Boston Harbor, Their History and Romance 1626-1935 (Andover, Mass., 1935), 367 pp. with map, WorldCat (Other Libraries), Not at FHL. The only islands with cemeteries there now are "Deer Island" and "Long Island" - neither are technically islands any more.

A Boston Death record lists a Charles H. Austin who was buried there in 1842.

14. Deer Island Cemetery, Deer Island, Boston Harbor, 1847.

This island has a Native American burial site from the King Philip's War in 1675-1676. The island was home to a quarantine station and many immigrants, mostly Irish, who died at the station were buried there in nameless graves. These are two separate sites. The burial grounds are now part of the park and the cemetery listed on maps nearby is Resthaven Cemetery (listed below) but included Waster Water Treatment Facility.

15. Governor's Island Cemetery [site], 19th century.

The cemetery was on the north slope of the hill and every grave was moved in 1908 to Deer Island.

16. Rainsford Island Cemetery [site], 1871-1920.

Note: This cemetery may no longer exist and it not mentioned in the history above or David Allen Lambert, A Guide to Massachusetts Cemeteries. The island was home to the adult male Paupers' House from 1871 to 1888. Those residences were moved over to nearby Long Island then and the building housed the adult female paupers. It became the House of Reformation from 1895 to 1920 that was renamed the Suffolk School for Boys. Burials were made from the Paupers' House.

17. Long Island Hospital Cemetery, Long Island, Boston Harbor, 1893.

The Almshouse was here and buried over 2500 there by 1935. These graves are only marked by lot numbers.

18. Resthaven Cemetery, Deer Island, Boston Harbor, 1918.

Note: This island was home to a prison, reform school, a fort, and other buildings. There were two cemeteries for these different facilities, one for prisoners and hospital patients and the other for military personnel. The military remains wer re-interred at Fort Devens Cemetery in Ayer, Mass. The others were moved to the New Rest Haven Cemetery.

Churches

The following is a list of churches established in Boston, East Boston, and South Boston by date founded. The earliest list of churches found was from Thomas Prince, The Vade Mecum for America: Or a Companion for Traders and Travellers (Boston, 1732), page 215, with "A List of the Houses of Publick Worship in Boston, with the Streets where they Stand, and the Times of the Foundation of the several Churches." There were fourteen listed then and by all accounts, there nothing established that were closed by then. The next authority used was John Hayward, A Gazetteer of Massachusetts (Boston, 1847), pp. 70-102, and Carroll D. Wright, Report of the Custody and Condition of the Public Records of Parishes, Towns, and Counties (Boston 1889). For information specific to Congregational churches, Harold Field Worthley, An Inventory of the Records of the Particular (Congregational) Churches of Massachusetts Gathered 1620-1805 (Cambridge, Mass., 1970) was consulted.

The best resource for the vital records of the churches of Boston is Robert J. Dunkle and Ann S. Lainhart, trans., The Records of the Churches of Boston (Boston, 2002) on CD [see WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL CD-ROM no. 1547]. The transcribers copied all baptisms, marriages, deaths, admissions, and dismissals from all Boston churches established before 1800 where records were found and include the first three parishes of Roxbury. Some transcriptions go beyond 1800. The only church not giving permission for their records to be included was the Cathedral of the Holy Cross (the oldest Catholic Church in New England). This is available online as a database at New England Historic Genealogical Society ($).

King Street [later called State St.] at the corner of Devonshire St., 1632-1639 [see sketch].

Cornhill [later called Washington St.], 1639-1808. This building burned in 1711 and a new brick church built on the same spot the following year called the Old Brick Church [see painting of building, 1712-1808]. This building was sold in 1808.

Memorials in the First Church in Boston (Boston, 1926?), [40] pp., photographs with descriptive text.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Richard D. Pierce, ed., The Records of The First Church in Boston, 1630-1868 being vols. 39 to 41 in the Publications of The Colonial Society of Massachusetts: Collections (Boston, 1961), 1254 pp.Digital version of Vol. 1 only at DigitalCommons for viewing only (this takes a couple minutes to download file) and cannot be saved.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Leo W. Collins, This is Our Church: The Seven Societies of the First Church in Boston 1630-2005 (Boston, 2005), iii, 181 pp.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

North Square [called Church Square in 1732] in the North End, 1650-1776 [see sketch].Burned in 1676, rebuilt on old site, British troops tear down building for firewood in 1776.

Middle Street [became part of Hanover Street in 1824] in the North End, 1779-1849.This was formerly the church for the Seventh Church or so-called New Brick Church and became the Old North Church.

Freeman Place on Beacon Hill, 1849-1854.

Bedford Street in the Financial District, 1854-1872.

Boylston Street at Copley Square, 1874-1914.

874 Beacon Street on the corner with Park Drive, 1914-1970.

Notes:

Some members left to form the New North Church in 1714.

A group of Old Light members led by Samuel Mather seceded in 1742 to form the Tenth Church. When their pastor died in 1785, they rejoined this church.

Congregation invited to combined services at the New Brick Church (i.e. Seventh Church) after British troops destroyed the Old North Church in 1776.

This church merged with the Seventh Church [or so-called New Brick Church] to be called the Old North Church in 1779.

Church shifts to Unitarian doctrine in 1802.

Church building demolished in 1844 and rebuilt on the same site in 1845 and called The Second Church.

Church purchased the Freeman Place Chapel and moved there. They sold their Hanover Street building to a Methodist congregation.

Church merged with the Church of Our Savior and moved into their building on Bedford Street in 1854. They sold the Freeman Place building.

Church on Bedford Street dismantled, the land sold, and reassembled the building with slight modifications in Copley Square that opened in 1874.

Brought property at the corner of Beacon Street and Park Drive in 1913 and built a church in 1914.

The Second Church joined the First Church to form The First and Second Church of Boston in 1970.

Records:

A note in the earliest original book state that after 23 years of existence, the church had yet to get a record book and that this sad state of affairs was impossible to restore it to a desirable record. The contemporary records begin in 1673.

The church vital records from 1741 to 1768 were lost during the Revolutionary War according to Worthley, but most seem present.

Part of Robert J. Dunkle and Ann S. Lainhart, trans., The Records of the Churches of Boston (Boston, 2002) [records to 1800] in a database at American Ancestors ($).

Publications:

Richard Mather, John Cotton, and James Allen, A platform of church-discipline; : gathered out of the Word of God; and agreed upon by the elders and messengers of the churches assembled in the Synod at Cambridge in N.E. : To be presented to the churches & General Court for their consideration & acceptance in the Lord, the 8th. month, anno. 1649 (1649; rep. Boston, 1701, by the Second Church), [26], 64, [6] pp.Digital transcription online.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

The group first met usually at the home of Thomas Gould, the first pastor, in Charlestown [not then part of Boston] and later at his place on Noodle's Island [now East Boston], 1665-1679.

The first meetinghouse built off from Back Street on the shore of the Mill Pond in the North End [later it became Stillman Street], 1679-1771.

They built a larger structure on the same site, 1771-1829.

They built a brick church on Hanover Street at the corner of Union Street, 1829-1854.

They moved to a brick building on Somerset Street on Beacon Hill, 1854-1877.

They moved to the Suffolk Street Chapel at the corner of Shawmut Avenue and Rutland Street in the South End, 1877-1882.

They moved to the church at 110 Commonwealth Avenue at the corner of Clarendon Street, 1882-present.

Notes:

This church was formed by two women and seven men in Charlestown in 1665.

Its doors were ordered nailed shut in 1680 by order of the Governor and Council for a week.

Its pastor Samuel Stillman help to establish Rhode Island College [now Brown University] and the first Baptist Missionary Society in America [now The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts] in 1764.

First African Church [now the People's Baptist Church in Roxbury] gathered here in 1805.

Established a sabbath school in 1816.

Found the Newton Theological School [now the Andover Newton Theological School] in 1825.

The congregation sold their church to a new congregation that formed in South Boston and the building was floated over to its new location in 1829.

The Shawmut Avenue Baptist Church merged with this church in 1877.

The church bought its present building from the Brattle Square Unitarian Society who had it constructed in 1872.

Records:

First Baptist Church, records, 1665-1960, held by Andover Newton Theological School, Newton, Mass., Mss. 1986-2 [search catalog with church as author], and six microfilmed subsets of this collection.

First Baptist Church, records, 1665-1838, transcription by James S. Loring in 1848 of the list of members with baptisms and deaths, held by Massachusetts Historical Society.

Online:

Part of Robert J. Dunkle and Ann S. Lainhart, trans., The Records of the Churches of Boston (Boston, 2002) [records to 1800] in a database at American Ancestors ($).

Publications:

James M. Winchell, Jubilee Sermon: Two Discourses Exhibiting an Historical Sketch of the First Baptist Church in Boston from its First Formation in Charlestown 1655 to the Beginning of 1818 (Boston, 1819), 47 pp.No digital version available.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

A Brief History of the First Baptist Church in Boston, with a list of its present members (Boston, 1839), 36 pp.No digital version available.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

A Brief History of the First Baptist Church in Boston, with a list of its present members (Boston, 1843), 36 pp.No digital version available.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Historical Sketch of the First Baptist Church, Boston: With the Church covenant, articles of faith, and a list of present members (Boston, 1891), 64 pp.No digital version available.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Cedar Meeting House, 1670-1729.This was on Marlborough Street [between Summer and School Streets and became part of Washington Street in 1824 at the corner of Milk Street']. This building was torn down as it was no longer big enough, and the new brick meeting house (below) constructed on the same spot.

The Confession of Faith and Form of Covenant, of the Old South Church, in Boston, Massachusetts, with Lists of the Founders, the Pastors, the Ruling Elders and Deacons, and the Members (Boston, 1841) [earlier and later editions'], 88 pp.Digital versions at Internet Archive and Google Books (1855 ed.).WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

List of Pastors, Officers, and Members of the Old South Church, in Boston, June 1, 1870: also, a list of members admitted since January 1, 1855 (Boston, 1870), 34 pp.No digital version available.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Elizabeth Putnam Sohier, History of the Old South Church of Boston (Boston, 1876), 73 pp.No digital version available.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Abiel Holmes, Memoir of the French Protestants, who Settled at Oxford, Massachusetts, A.D. 1686; with a Sketch of the Entire History of the Protestants of France (Cambridge, Mass., 1826), iv, 84 pp.Digital version at online.Reprinted in Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 3rd Series, 2 [1830]: 1-83.WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Worthington C. Ford, "Ezechiel Carre and the French Church in Boston" in Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 52 [1918-1919]: 121-132.No digital version available.WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL book 974.4 C4p.

Percival Merritt, "The French Protestant Church in Boston" in the Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts: Transactions, 26 [1927]: 323-347, and published privately in 1927.WorldCat (Other Libraries); FHL film 844531.

58 Tremont Street at the corner with School Street has been its only location.

Note:

The first building was a small wooden meeting house where the current building now standing, 1689, see sketch.

Box pews were built in 1712.

First church organ in New England installed here in 1714.

A larger building of Quincy granite replaced the dilapidated wooden structure. The lot to the east was purchased for the expansion. Work began in 1749 and the church opened in 1754. See a view in 1843 in a Philip Harry painting.

There was no minister for this church when the British were driven out in 1776. The building, then called the Stone Chapel, was used by the Old South Meeting House congregational with some of the old parishioners until the church settled a minister in 1782.

The Minister Rev. Henry Caner left for Halifax, N.S., with the church records in 1776. Seemingly these have been returned.

This congregation temporarily merged with Trinity Church from 1777 to 1781.

This church severed its ties with the Church of England in 1785, it has kept a quasi-Episcopalian form of church government, and considered Unitarian.

Henry Wilder Foote, Annals of King's Chapel from the Puritan Age to the Present Day (Boston, 1882-1896), 2v.Digital versions at Internet Archive (v. 1 and v. 2) and Google Books (v. 1 and v. 2).WorldCat (Other Libraries); Not at FHL.

Notarial records - Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775

Volume 32. A Volume Relating to the Early History of Boston, containing the Aspinwall Notarial Records from 1644 to 1651. Boston: Municipal Printing Office, 1903. (FHL book 974.461 H2b v. 32). Digital version at Internet Archive

The Congregational Library has an impressive collection of records documenting the history of American Congregationalism for the last 300 years. Equally impressive is their collection of New England local, town, and family histories. They also have a strong collection of published Massachusetts vital records. Congregational church records include membership lists, dismissals, baptisms, marriages, minutes of meetings, etc.

Societies

The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) has a substantial collection of published New England genealogies and local histories. They also have a strong microform collection that contains copies of original town, probate, land, and vital records; censuses; city directories; and immigration records for most of the New England states and neighboring Canadian provinces. Their manuscript department, which is open only to members, houses over 2 million manuscript items. Some of the items date to the late fourteenth century. Much of the collection emphasizes the New England area. Included in the collection are thousands of unpublished family histories and genealogies, bibles and bible records, church, cemetery, town, and vital records, maps, photographs, etc.